Valentine with Coconut! A typical ‘Goenkar Mog’ on 14 Feb

The fight to save coconut trees is now entering into a creative – and also romantic – mode with 14 February to be celebrated as ‘Coconut Valentine.’

As 14 February also completes one month of passing the controversial Preservation of Trees Act, Goa ForGiving, along with History-Heritage Action Group, has announced various creative events on the Valentine Day this year.

It includes a photography competition, announced by Goa ForGiving chairman Armando Gonsalves, to be posted on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with #CoconutLove or #CoconutValentine.

“All you have to do is click a photograph of you and your valentine hugging a coconut tree, or any other pose. If you do not have a Valentine, you can make the coconut tree your Valentine”, says Gonsalves

It doesn’t need to be romantic love; it could be family love and care, sibling love or whatever creative idea springs to your mind, as long as it’s on the theme of love, he adds.

The Competition will be judged by noted blogger Anuradha Goyal, photographer Prasad Pankar and Antonio C Pacheco, the CEO of Founder Studio7.

“Let symbolically the Coconut Tree become St Valentine”, he said at a press conference today.

Prajal Sakhardande of History-Heritage Action Group said they have also organised a ‘Coconut Valentine party’ at Zeebop in Utorda.

“There will be music, coconut art on display by Shalini Gaude, sweets made of coconut by Sufala Gaitonde, tender coconut stalls etc”, he said.

In addition, they announced that Adarsh Toraskar will be organizing Coconut Valentine programme in Ponda.

It would include two events - a painting competition for kids and a cookery competition for women, with coconut as the main ingredient.

Curtorim MLA Alex Reginald Lourenco at the press meet appealed to all the coconut-loving Goans to celebrate this year’s valentine in a similar creative manner, to protest against the government’s decision in a typical Goenkar style.